Rumia Quest 7: Chasing Shadows

[Raikaria]

>"Well, I think it'd probably be better to 'fill the vacuum', as it were. That way she can't take it back as easily, which will likely distract her a bit, making it easier to deliver the aforementioned beating."

> "Well that was Kanako and Suwako's idea with Sanae." Wriggle says.

> "Uh, yeah, about that... they vanished, and haven't been seen since this all started." Hong replies.

> "Maybe we should discuss strategy when we've gathered everyone?" Renko suggests. "I mean, if we talk about it now we'll only have to explain it all again and think through it all again when Yuugi joins up, as well as everyone else."

> At this point, Aya shows up, flying through the sky, and landing.

> "I figured something had happened, since the plant monsters suddenly became more aggressive. I was just Underground. Seems like it's as bad as it is up here. The Palace of the Earth Spirits is fine, but that's only due to the those three Oni. I think aside from those three, it's just Satori and Utusho, as well as some horned, spectral swordswoman I don't recognize." she says, before adding, "And there's not a lot of people I don't recognize."

> Aya looks tired, you can see it in her eyes. Even Gensokyo's fastest doesn't have unlimited stamina.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Right, we need to gather everyone who's willing to help out with the efforts to take our sleeping friends back. I'll go get Yuugi and Okuu personally, you guys gather the rest who're willing to help take Titania on."

[Raikaria]

>"Right, we need to gather everyone who's willing to help out with the efforts to take our sleeping friends back. I'll go get Yuugi and Okuu personally, you guys gather the rest who're willing to help take Titania on."

> "Well, it's not just willing, but also able. Someone has to protect the ones sleeping." Hong says. "I also wouldn't suggest you go alone. Since all the youkai underground are stronger than most of the ones up here, and they're all down too according to Aya, the plants there might be stronger."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright then, who'll come along with me? I figure it's best to split up a bit until we're ready to make our counterattack."

[Raikaria]

>"Alright then, who'll come along with me? I figure it's best to split up a bit until we're ready to make our counterattack."

> "I think me 'n Alice should go check the village ~ze." Marisa says.

> "Eye'll go!" Cirno says, which quickly gets a 'no' from Daiyousei, after the last time she met Yuugi and almost caused the Underground to enter an Ice Age, although she adds "Not within me making sure you don't do anything stupid at least."

> "I guess I could." Rika says.

> "Of course I'm going!" Kogasa says.

> "... Yoshika will follow umbrella friend seeing as Nyang Nyang is sleeping and I have no instructions." Yoshika says.

> "You sure, it's a long way down, if you forget how to fly... without Seiga ready to patch you up..." Kogasa says.

> "Wait, why is Seiga not like the others?" Mariebl asks.

> "She's not asleep, she's trapped in an Illusion by Shinki. I guess that's overriding whatever Yuuka's doing." Alice says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Yeah, Seiga was trying to become a God the same way Shinki did. But over the many years of her life as a Wicked Hermit, she lost sight of her original motivation, and only the desire for power remained. Sad thing really, someone's going to have to keep Yoshika maintained while Seiga's rediscovering herself or something. She'll wake up again someday, 'once she realizes herself'. Or whatever it was that Shinki said."
>Look to Marisa and Alice. "I don't suppose you guys would know any way to pool power into one person would you? Because I had a possible idea of lumping a bunch of gathered power into Yuugi to give her an extra powerup so she can have better odds against Titania."

[Raikaria]

>"Yeah, Seiga was trying to become a God the same way Shinki did. But over the many years of her life as a Wicked Hermit, she lost sight of her original motivation, and only the desire for power remained. Sad thing really, someone's going to have to keep Yoshika maintained while Seiga's rediscovering herself or something. She'll wake up again someday, 'once she realizes herself'. Or whatever it was that Shinki said."
>Look to Marisa and Alice. "I don't suppose you guys would know any way to pool power into one person would you? Because I had a possible idea of lumping a bunch of gathered power into Yuugi to give her an extra powerup so she can have better odds against Titania."

> "Nope." Marisa says. "I'm good at focusing my own power into one place, but other people? Nah. Unless you count sparking someone as giving them energy."

> "Patchouli or Byakuren might know." Alice comments.

> "Energy transferral between people seems more like white magic if it's willingly. Byakuren would be the best bet." Daiyousei says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright, since you two are going to the village, odds are likely that Byakuren's going to be there too. Be sure to fill her in on my idea."

[Raikaria]

>"Alright, since you two are going to the village, odds are likely that Byakuren's going to be there too. Be sure to fill her in on my idea."

> "Byakuren should be there or nearby." Marisa says, Myouren's not far.

[Hanzo K.]

>Look to the group. "Someone's going to have to keep tabs on Seiga while she's out though. After all, there's hope for her yet. It might take a long time, but sooner or later she'll come out of it."

[Raikaria]

>Look to the group. "Someone's going to have to keep tabs on Seiga while she's out though. After all, there's hope for her yet. It might take a long time, but sooner or later she'll come out of it."

> "We can do that. She can go to Senkai." Miko says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Alright, I'll leave her in your hands."
>Look to Yoshika. "I know you want to come along, but you should keep close to Seiga for now until we can find someone else who can keep you in tip-top shape. I'd hate for Seiga to come back to a you that's practically nothing but a head. She'd be real mad y'know, seeing as she cares for you a lot."

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Alright, I'll leave her in your hands."
>Look to Yoshika. "I know you want to come along, but you should keep close to Seiga for now until we can find someone else who can keep you in tip-top shape. I'd hate for Seiga to come back to a you that's practically nothing but a head. She'd be real mad y'know, seeing as she cares for you a lot."

> "But Nyang Nyang says there are loads of spirits floating around underground. If I can eat them I heal!" Yoshika protests.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Yeah, but I don't want to risk it. Odds are pretty likely that the plants down there are even stronger than the ones here. Even your healing ability won't mean much without Seiga to make sure you get properly patched up afterwards. After all, you're a friend too, even despite the stunt you pulled. That was Seiga's doing anyhow, and she's already been punished in a way. You might say she's in one doozy of a timeout."
>Smile a bit. "Leave it to people who can afford a bit more to take the risk, eh?"
>How healed-up are we after getting blasted through that pillar?

[Raikaria]

>"Yeah, but I don't want to risk it. Odds are pretty likely that the plants down there are even stronger than the ones here. Even your healing ability won't mean much without Seiga to make sure you get properly patched up afterwards. After all, you're a friend too, even despite the stunt you pulled. That was Seiga's doing anyhow, and she's already been punished in a way. You might say she's in one doozy of a timeout."
>Smile a bit. "Leave it to people who can afford a bit more to take the risk, eh?"
>How healed-up are we after getting blasted through that pillar?

> Yoshika looks sad, but doesn't argue.

> You are recovered fully. Even if you hadn't in Makai, the Forest is in shade due to the trees.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Don't worry, once someone's good enough to patch you up at least half as good as Seiga can, then you should be able to get back into action. I'm sure there's a book somewhere that details that sort of thing."
>Grin a bit. "It's probably titled something silly like 'The Care and Feeding of Your Jiang-Shi'. After all, even mages and such have to have some sort of sense of humor."

[Raikaria]

>"Don't worry, once someone's good enough to patch you up at least half as good as Seiga can, then you should be able to get back into action. I'm sure there's a book somewhere that details that sort of thing."
>Grin a bit. "It's probably titled something silly like 'The Care and Feeding of Your Jiang-Shi'. After all, even mages and such have to have some sort of sense of humor."

> The joke goes right over Yoshika's head, she just stands there, blankly.

> "I think you might be able to find a chapter of it in some dusty old dungeon somewhere~" Kogasa says. "Necromancers like dusty dungeons~"

> Maribel reaches one hand into a gap, and pulls out a hammer, before reaching with the hammer into another.

> "What are you doing Mary?" Renko asks.

> "Fixing the fourth wall. Again." she says, before muttering "Stupid Karakasa..."

[Hanzo K.]

>Look to Maribel. "She does that a lot, you get used to it after a while. Though I guess fixing that wall thing's tougher than it seems?"
>Look to Miko. "Did Seiga have any texts on how to keep a Jiang-Shi in top form? We might be able to use those to keep Yoshika in good condition until Seiga eventually wakes up."

[Raikaria]

>Look to Maribel. "She does that a lot, you get used to it after a while. Though I guess fixing that wall thing's tougher than it seems?"
>Look to Miko. "Did Seiga have any texts on how to keep a Jiang-Shi in top form? We might be able to use those to keep Yoshika in good condition until Seiga eventually wakes up."

> "It depends how badly she breaks it. And yes, I know she does it. Can you imagine the state it was in when I found it?"

> "Uh, Mary, acknowledging the Fourth Wall is breaking it."

> You hear something like breaking glass from the gap.

> "... DAMNIT." she shouts.

> Miko shakes her head. "Seiga just... did stuff. Or Yoshika ate spirits."

[Hanzo K.]

>Level a slightly amused look at Renko. "She's going to be busy for a while, isn't she?"
>Sigh. "Well, maybe Patchouli has a book or two on that, she's got damn near everything in the way of books after all."
>For that matter, what do we know about what Seiga did to keep Yoshika in top form, aside from what Miko mentioned?

[Raikaria]

>Level a slightly amused look at Renko. "She's going to be busy for a while, isn't she?"
>Sigh. "Well, maybe Patchouli has a book or two on that, she's got damn near everything in the way of books after all."
>For that matter, what do we know about what Seiga did to keep Yoshika in top form, aside from what Miko mentioned?

> "It doesn't take too long, usually. Not sure how she fixes a broken wall with a hammer, but I think that's just how her handles her power in her mind, and helps her focus it." Renko says.

> "She wrote most of those books, actually. Most of the Voile Library is her Grimoires." Daiyousei says.

> Apparently Seiga would occasionally attempt to oil Yoshika's joints. It never worked, they stayed stiff as ever.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, maybe Kosuzu's place has some? I did find one of Byakuren's tomes there after all. We'll have to check there once all this is wrapped up, because I don't know much more about keeping Yoshika up and running anymore than Miko does."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, maybe Kosuzu's place has some? I did find one of Byakuren's tomes there after all. We'll have to check there once all this is wrapped up, because I don't know much more about keeping Yoshika up and running anymore than Miko does."

> "Maybe, she is a collector of demonic books made by Youkai, she might have some evil book on Necromancy." Alice comments.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Sometimes you gotta get your hands a little dirty after all, And she is technically alive now, right? She's just fueled by magic and spirits, unlike the rest of us. Besides, Seiga regards her as her child in a way, that's why she dotes on her so much. Wouldn't want Seiga to have a reversal back to her old self again so soon after coming out of her little nap, eh? An angry mom's nothing to sneeze at."

[Raikaria]

>"Sometimes you gotta get your hands a little dirty after all, And she is technically alive now, right? She's just fueled by magic and spirits, unlike the rest of us. Besides, Seiga regards her as her child in a way, that's why she dotes on her so much. Wouldn't want Seiga to have a reversal back to her old self again so soon after coming out of her little nap, eh? An angry mom's nothing to sneeze at."

> "Wouldn't Seiga just revive her anyway?" Marisa asks. "Still, if we're going to the Human Village anyway, we might as well look, right Alice?"

> "It seems reasonable, and the highest chance of finding youkai books. That girl's fascination never made sense to me. All I cared about was who the authors of those evil books were. You know, youkai hating and killing days. Still evil youkai hating and killing days." Rika says. She almost sounds nostalgic.

> It occurs you don't even know how long Rika had left the human village for. You know Reimu was about eight when she first met Rika, so that means at least ten years.

> Actually, you don't even know how old Rika is.

[Hanzo K.]

>"You know, I wonder about you sometimes. Given the whole looking like a child for at least ten years thing. Or at least, you looked like one when I ran into you."
>Shrug. "Well, either way, we've got people to round-up, so let's get going. Where should we all meet up to do all the proper planning?"

[Raikaria]

>"You know, I wonder about you sometimes. Given the whole looking like a child for at least ten years thing. Or at least, you looked like one when I ran into you."
>Shrug. "Well, either way, we've got people to round-up, so let's get going. Where should we all meet up to do all the proper planning?"

> "Satori's looked like a child for far longer. So did you." Rika says, looking annoyed. "Is it my fault I was a loli?"

> Of all people, Cirno comes up with the answer first.

> "The mansion of course! It's like, nearly in the middle of Gensokyo, and hard to get into, right? And those strong people gotta be OK!" she says, before adding "Of course, not as strong or as OK as me!"

[Hanzo K.]

>Stare at Cirno for a few moments, Then: "...That's actually a pretty good idea."
>Then look back to Rika. "Well, we'll talk more about this when everything's all taken care of, eh? Let's get going!"
>Let's make for the underground with our group!

[Raikaria]

>Stare at Cirno for a few moments, Then: "...That's actually a pretty good idea."
>Then look back to Rika. "Well, we'll talk more about this when everything's all taken care of, eh? Let's get going!"
>Let's make for the underground with our group!

> "Of course it is!" Cirno says, puffing out her chest proudly.

> "Cirno had a good idea. We're really screwed, aren't we?" Wriggle says.

> "It must be a sign of the apocalypse." Mystia agrees.

> Alice and Marisa fly off towards the Human Village, with Hong following, presumably because the SDM isn't too far. The Taoists began praying to open the path to Senkai for them, with Yoshika staying with them. Aya goes back to Youkai Mountain, probobly to get Tenma and update him on the situation. [Although you note the tired Tengu is hardly flying faster than Mystia] Everyone else goes with you.

> You fly above Gensokyo, and see the entire place is filled with plants of varying kinds. It is both unsettleing, and beautiful, even with the moving plant monsters wandering around.

> As you approach the Blowhole, you see a fight happening on the ground. Two large plant-creatures are fighting someone in green, moving swiftly. There seems to be ten defeated already.


Youmu Konpanku [And Myon]
Half Ghost of Duel Professions

> "I'm a Gardener! Plants can't stop me!" you hear Youmu boast, as she cuts down the smaller of the two. The last plant monster is larger, and, unlike the others, seems to have a sunflower-like head. Knowing Yuuka, that means it's stronger.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's pull out Unified Chaos and put some oomph into it so we can cleave that plant in two, right down the middle!